PaulHollywood

Speaker Profile

Before Paul was persuaded by his father to continue the family business, as professional bakers, he had trained as a sculptor.

His hands, strained on clay and stone, masterfully moulded his baking career and allowed him to progress rapidly. The most exclusive of hotels, including The Dorchester and The Chester Grosvenor were amongst a select few to have had Paul working with them as Head Baker. He was no sooner recognised as one of the country’s finest artisan bakers.

Not satisfied with the traditional methods he had come to master in the UK, Paul decided to travel the world in search of new, more innovative ways to bake. His travels lead him from the Southern reaches of Europe to Northern and Central Africa where he learned, and to this day still uses, an array of local tricks to further his mastery.

Paul launched the Paul Hollywood Artisan Bread Company, when he returned to England, and now supplies the likes of Harrods and Waitrose, amongst others, with his own baked goods.

In 2002, Paul kicked off his media career as he co-presented a number of TV shows with James Martin on the Carlton Food Network. He has since been a judge, alongside Marry Berry, on three series of The Great British Bake Off. The show went on to become BBC2's 'Most popular show of the last 10 years', having had over 8 million viewers tune-in per episode as the show progressed.

Paul has since been aired on numerous television shows across various networks around the world, including regular appearances on CBS, the BBC and ITV.

He has published a number of books, of which 100 Great Bread became an instant best-seller and went on to print in 10 countries in 7 languages and topped the Gourmand Academy's list of Top Bread and Pastry Books. Paul also writes and bakes for magazines and newspapers such as The Observer, The BBC Good Food Magazine, The Telegraph and The Daily Mail.

Paul Hollywood is an essential part of modern British entertainment and exudes, beyond his TV persona, a wealth of knowledge and expertise. There are few who are able to adapt those traits to suit a commercial environment and Paul has shown, not only an immense capability, but a willingness to share and impress those expertise upon his audience.